A Proposal to Analyze 

“A Government in Thrall to Religion” by Frank R Zindler

     I don’t like his views one bit.  I disagree on most of them and reading his background I see 

absolutely no reason for some of the things that he says.  Perhaps it is my religious bias, or 

background that lead me to think and feel the way I do about Mr. Zindler, however I will say 

that, though I disagree with most of it, I can or do agree with some of it.  There are some points 

he brings to light that I do believe our government has to realize and fix.  Even though it is not 

very appealing and convincing to me, it wasn’t me that Zindler was writing to.  Considering that 

his audience is primarily those of the Atheist party as he is I find that he is very persuasive in 

stirring and intensifying the feelings of separation of church and state.  

     I propose to focus primarily how through his powerful word choice, religious connections, 

and firm examples of his point he creates a very convincing pathological paper.  It is not perfect 

by any means or standards, however it accomplishes it’s purpose.  That purpose is not to 

persuade everyone to believe and think as he does(though I think he would like that), but it is to 

help create stir amongst those who share his similar beliefs to creating a voice against the merge 

of religion and state affairs.  You can tell he had thought a great deal of the subject and also how 

to word such an issue without completely ridiculing the religious.  He is very firm on his 

viewpoints and ways but does not spend the whole paper insulting those who not in favor of his 

views.  The greatest part of the paper is the passion that is displayed through his words.  As you 

read you have this sense of urgency as he repeatly tells his audience if we do not do this now, 

when?  Also banging off the same topic, he iterates the importance of such by letting people 

know we will not survive as a nation if this keeps up.  While I find fault in his views of the 

importance of stopping religion being intertwined with government I will see both sides of his 

argument, both from his original audience, and from myself.

Faith in America: Mitt Romney

          

     The purpose, which is beautifully stated by Mitt Romney, was to help the nation 

realize that separation of church and state has never been the true way of America.  

God has, and always will be a key part in America’s progression.  Our country was 

founded on faith and will be sustained by faith.  He called for men of true faith to show it.  

To be respecters of all faith, loyal patriots to our country, and to remember, “In God we 

trust.”  He also let people know that he, if elected President, would run America as it has 

always been run, which is under God.

     He states great logos through history and the facts of our nation.  He quotes Sam 

Adams in his own words of going for faith in God, and shows the nation that this is the 

most effective way.  He goes on to tell that America was founded on faith, and the 

founding fathers put God in the Constitution for a reason.  He also states the common 

facts that all Christians, and probably most non Christians, should know.  One of them 

being that we are all God’s children and that God is our Creator.  By using this common 

knowledge he hits on the basic points that all people uphold, therefore catching his 

audience.

     Through ethos he accomplishes his status in the past, and what it will be in the 

future.  He states that how he was governor he ran the state as best as he could.  He 

also did not enforce his own religion on anyone but instead ran the state as the 

Constitution taught him too.  He later then touches on the family aspect of himself.  He 

states that his spouse is a living example of service and doing what is right, not just 

simply doing what their religion implies.  He uses these two things to help the audience 

see that he will respect all religions and treat them fairly as he should.  He also states 

the fact that no one should win or lose candidacy due to their religion.  That would be 

pure discrimination.

     To round off this great delivered message, Romney touches the emotional parts of 

his audience.  He seems to do this through a mirage of stories of great men from the 

past, quotes from the beloved Lincoln, events with the founding fathers, etc.  Through 

these numerous stories and small quotes he arouses the audience to remember what it 

is that made this country, and that is God.  He even adds his own testimony through the 

process of the paper, letting others know of his personal belief and expectations.  He 

does well with pathos by helping people remember the pure trust our founding fathers 

had on God and how we ought to do the same.  We cannot afford to lose that trust.

     This is in my opinion a great piece on faith.  Romney boldly adds his own testimony 

and belief, but also lets people know how he will run office by way of the Constitution, 

not by his church’s council.  By including his trust to the Bible, and what the oath stands 

for lets the audience feel that this man is, indeed, religious, but also willing to do what is 

needed to help America.

How Pathos is used in Mormon Housewives Blogs:

1. Appeals to kind of fantasy living- The author states multiple times that these lives portrayed in the blogs are what her, and other friends, sometimes dream about having.  She also states that they probably would not do it when it came to it, however, it is a nice escape.  She questions if the life of an LDS woman can really be as good as they post.  They are almost as Barbie dolls living in a perfect world.  This can help the reader begin to think of what their perfect or ideal life is like and compare with the mormon bloggers.

1. Comparisons - The author brings great feeling into her blog through herself.  She uses herself as a common woman, who seems to have no religion, nor interest in kids, cupcakes, or a “perfect life” and shows that the blog still affects her.  In a way she points out that even a woman completely opposite and different can see that the blogs are good.  She points out that the lives of the mormon housewives are not perfect and that the life they say is always the more positive, however, it is a great way to think and to get away from real life.  This can help the writer reach out to a greater audience.  It is not just for mormons, or bloggers, but even for those who never had interest in any of those things just as the writer expresses.

1. Humor - The author has a paragraph or two which are just meant to arouse the funny bone.  She writes of how the mormon blogger’s lives are a little too perfect and how the world would be if we all spoke as they did.  We would all speak like, a little insanely, happy high school girls.  Adding this really gets the reader to realize the blogger’s cover of real life.  Though she doesn’t flat out say that they are liars she does say and show that the bloggers are deciding not to share any down moments of life giving the readers a better sense that mormon housewives are actually real people.

Opinion Editorial

     

     While writing my first ever opinion editorial, I was surprised to find that, though I had 

not exactly written it down, I have done these types of papers before.  I had thought on 

the topic of being genuine hundreds of times, pondering exactly why it was like it was.  I 

have studied other people’s behavior and listened to others opinions on the same topic.  

I have also personally experience the kinds of things mentioned in my paper about 

learning to have integrity.  I feel that we all have experienced it in one way or another.  

The feeling to fit in with others in a universal one and one that does not just simply leave 

when we tell it to.  It is a feeling experienced by young and old and shown by humble 

and prideful alike.  While writing this essay I learned a lot how I could personally change 

and be more firm to my beliefs so in the process I found using pathos really helped my 

paper’s audience understand my point.  On the point of being genuine I couldn’t state 

facts or tell you exactly how it is, because it is really all different.  In that respect, I tried 

to use a general knowledge and feeling of my audience, and appeal to their more 

emotional side, by trying to motivate them to be themselves.  Logos was not key in any 

of my essay because statistics cannot explain feeling in my opinion.  Going into the 

paper I felt it would just be another assignment but as I was writing and editing for the 

final draft I realized how much of my personal thought and true feelings I put into this 

paper.  I really felt every statement was one I have analyzed and thought about for 

years.  It wasn’t unnatural or strange because it was exactly what I have been thinking 

put down on a page.  To let your thoughts flow and see it come out as something good 

and beautiful can really help you to like writing.  Writing can express yourself more than 

speaking can at times, and that, my friends, is very cool.